Air conditioning system with vibration dampening device

Abstract

A device is provided for dampening compressor-induced vibration in an air conditioning system of the type having an indoor unit, an outdoor unit and a refrigerant conduit therebetween. The outdoor unit includes a compressor that is operable to circulate a vapor compression refrigerant through the conduit between the indoor and outdoor units. The dampening device is comprised of plural vibration dampening elements spaced along the conduit, with the spacing between adjacent elements corresponding to the wavelength of a natural vibratory frequency of the conduit. The device is preferably located proximate to the compressor and inside of the outdoor unit cabinet in which the compressor is housed. Various embodiments of the dampening device are disclosed.

1. An air conditioning unit, comprising:
 a refrigerant line; 
 a compressor for compressing a vapor compression refrigerant and circulating the refrigerant through said line; and 
 a device for reducing compressor-induced vibration in said line, said device including a plurality of vibration-dampening elements spaced along at least a portion of said refrigerant line, each of said elements being spaced apart from an adjacent element at an interval corresponding to a wavelength of a natural vibratory frequency of said line, wherein each of said elements is comprised of a flexible member and a rigid sleeve in concentric relationship with said line, said flexible member surrounding said line and said rigid sleeve surrounding said flexible member. 
 
   
   
     2. The unit of  claim 1  wherein said line includes plural convolutions associated with each of said elements. 
   
   
     3. The unit of  claim 1  wherein said device includes a tubular member interposed in said line and defining a portion thereof, said plurality of elements being spaced along said tubular member, said flexible member surrounding said tubular member and said rigid sleeve surrounding said flexible member. 
   
   
     4. The unit of  claim 3  wherein said tubular member includes plural convolutions associated with each of said elements. 
   
   
     5. The unit of  claim 1  wherein said interval corresponds to about one-fourth of the wavelength of said compressor-induced natural vibratory frequency. 
   
   
     6. The unit of  claim 1  further including a cabinet, said compressor and said vibration-dampening elements being located in said cabinet. 
   
   
     7. The unit of  claim 1  further including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, said refrigerant line interconnecting said compressor with said first and second heat exchangers, said compressor being operable to draw refrigerant from said first heat exchanger through a first portion of said refrigerant line and to discharge refrigerant to said second heat exchanger through a second portion of said refrigerant line, said plurality of vibration-dampening elements being spaced along said first portion of said refrigerant line. 
   
   
     8. An air conditioning unit, comprising:
 a refrigerant line; 
 a compressor for compressing a vapor compression refrigerant and circulating the refrigerant through said line; and 
 a device for reducing compressor-induced vibration in said line, said device including a plurality of vibration-dampening elements spaced along at least a portion of said refrigerant line, each of said elements being spaced apart from an adjacent element at an interval corresponding to a wavelength of a natural vibratory frequency of said line, wherein each of said elements is in concentric relationship with said line and has a chamber containing plural particles in a relatively densely packed arrangement, whereby each particle is in contact with at least one other particle. 
 
   
   
     9. The unit of  claim 8  wherein said device includes a tubular member interposed in said line and defining a portion thereof, said plurality of elements being spaced along said tubular member and in concentric relationship. 
   
   
     10. The unit of  claim 8  further including a cabinet, said compressor and said vibration-dampening elements being located in said cabinet. 
   
   
     11. The unit of  claim 8  further including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, said refrigerant line interconnecting said compressor with said first and second heat exchangers, said compressor being operable to draw refrigerant from said first heat exchanger through a first portion of said refrigerant line and to discharge refrigerant to said second heat exchanger through a second portion of said refrigerant line, said plurality of vibration-dampening elements being spaced along said first portion of said refrigerant line. 
   
   
     12. An air conditioning unit, comprising:
 a refrigerant line; 
 a compressor for compressing a vapor compression refrigerant and circulating the refrigerant through said line; and 
 a device for reducing compressor-induced vibration in said line, said device including a plurality of vibration-dampening elements spaced along at least a portion of said refrigerant line, each of said elements being spaced apart from an adjacent element at an interval corresponding to a wavelength of a natural vibratory frequency of said line, wherein each of said elements is comprised of plural sections of enhanced flexibility formed in said line. 
 
   
   
     13. The unit of  claim 12  wherein each of said sections is comprised of plural corrugations to enhance the flexibility of said line. 
   
   
     14. The unit of  claim 12  wherein said device includes a tubular member interposed in said line and defining a portion thereof, said plurality of elements being formed in said tubular member. 
   
   
     15. The unit of  claim 12  further including a cabinet, said compressor and said vibration-dampening elements being located in said cabinet. 
   
   
     16. The unit of  claim 12  further including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, said refrigerant line interconnecting said compressor with said first and second heat exchangers, said compressor being operable to draw refrigerant from said first heat exchanger through a first portion of said refrigerant line and to discharge refrigerant to said second heat exchanger through a second portion of said refrigerant line, said plurality of vibration-dampening elements being spaced along said first portion of said refrigerant line.